Direction-indicator switch



i /frv STOP INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Manl .2, 1926,

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. MILLER., on WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA, `assIGNoIrTo MILLER AUTOMATIC SIGNAL LIGHT COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

DBECTIQNJNDICATOB SWITCH.

` Application meg August 2s, 1922. serial 1er.- 583,875.

To all 'whom it may comer/n: -Be it known that I, JAMES M. Mmmm, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, 6 have invented new and useful Improve- ,ments in Direction-Indicator Switches, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to direction signals for motor operatedvehicles, and embodies l amongst' other features, the `provision .of meanswhereby certain compartments of a lamp Casing mounted at the rear of the vehicle, are selectively illuminated incident to the turn of the steering wheel and a slight l movement of the brake pedal, the'said com-l partments being illuminated when the play of the steerin wheelv is taken up, and just prior to turmng the front wheels of .the vehicle, thereby giving drivers of other mal chines am le vnotice of the fact' that the driver of the machine with which the signal is equipped is about to turn in either direction.

Another object of the invention resides l in the provision of a signal of the above mentioned character wherebya particular compartment of the lamp casing is illumi' natedy'incident to the depression of the brakey pedal, to indicate the intention of the I driver of the vehicle to bring his car to a stop; while an additional compartment of the lamp casing is automatically illuminated when the gear shift lever is moved in a proper direction to place the car in reverse l river of the vehicle is about=` to reverse his machine.

A further Object of the invention resides `in the 'provision of a direction si al where- .in one of the compartments o the lamp casing which, is illuminated to indicate to others the intention of the driver to turn in either, direction as above stated, is also used in the capacity of a parking lamp.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is -read'in connection with the accompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction,

ear,- which indicates to others, that the" ing in the cover ofl the cas' combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed. I

In the drawing forming part of this a plication, like numerals of reference indpicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein n Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a steer- Ing column and ost, showing the application of the switch thereto.

Fi ure 2 is a view -in elevation of the swltc Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view.

Referring to lthe drawing in detail, 10 indicates a lamp casing which lis adapted to be arranged at some appropriate part of the vehicle, and which caslngis provided with compartments 1 1, 12, 13, and 14 respectively. The cover of the casing is pro-4 vided with openings. Arranged directly at the rear of these compartments and the enings are the compartments 13 and 14, ich are substantially arrow-sha ed, pointing to the right and to the left. ach Compartment is provided with an electric light bulb 15, it being understood that the compartments are singly illuminated to convey certain infomation to the drivers of other vehicles, relative to' the stopping of the lma-4 chine, or' the course it is about to pursue.

For this purpose, the word Stop appears on the transparent member arranged in the opening for the compartment 11, while the word Back is similarly arranged with 4relation to the compartment 12. In the center of the casing 10 there is an additional compartment 16 which contains an electric light bulb 17 and when this compartmentis illuminated, it illuminates the transparent member which is adapted to cover the opentransparent member is of a di erent color than any of the similar members above re-` ferred to. It is to be understood that this central compartment 16 is illuminated 'ust prior to eit er of the compartments se ectively-il'luminated to indicate whichway the vehicle is to be turned.

, and this When the electric light bulbs in the differ# ent compartments are connected in different circuits, and the source of ener for these circuits is indicated at 18, the bulb 15 in the compartment 11 is connected in circuit with the brake pedal 19, so that when the brake pedal is slightly depressed and brought into engagement with a contact the latter, so that others are informed of' the fact that the driver is about to reverse his machine.

As above stated, the compartments 13 and 14 respectively are` selectively illuminated incident tothe turning o f the steering wheel 28,`to indicate which direction the machine is about to turn. For this purpose, the steering post 29 is provided with a toothed wheel, 30 which is arranged immediately beneath the steeringxwheel 28, and this toothed wheel is engaged b theadjacent extremity' of the movable e ement 31 of a switch which operates between aced pairs of contacts 32 and 33 respectlvely. The

movable contact element 31 and the contacts 32 and 33 are all arranged in a suitable housing or casing-34 which is also clamped o1' mounted upon the steering column 35, and the various wires associated with these parts are arran d in a sin le tubing or the like 36' wh1ch enters t e casing 34 through an opening in the bottom thereof. The movable contact element or member 31 has its upper portion extended from the housing orv casing 34 and inset. The upper end of the movable contact element or member 31 is bifurcated and engaged by the toothed wheel 30. When the steering wheel is turned to the left, that is when it is initially turned to take up the lost motion in the wheel, the teeth on the wheel 30 engaging the adjacent.- end of the movable contacting element 31, shifts the latter on its pivot 37, moving it into engagement with the contacts 32. rIAhe brake'pedal 19 is then depressed, and moved intoengagement with the contact,l 20, completing the circuit to the compartment 13. The current Hows l from its source'l 18 through the wire 21,

ythence'through'the brake pedal and contact 20, tothe element 31 through the' wire 38, and thence through the contacts 32 tothe compartment 13. This compartment is i1- 'lummated to indicate that the driver isabout 31 has been moved into engagement with the contacts 32, further turning of the steering wheel 28 in order to guide the vehicle will not disturbthe element 31, as it then merel idles over the teeth of the wheel 30. It wi l be also noted that when the contact element 31 is moved into engagement with Vthe contacts 32, which engages one of the contacts just prior to the other, so that when the pedal 19 is depressed to complete the circuit, the compartment 16 is illuminated immediately before the compartment 13, the current passing through the wire 40 to the compartment 16. When the steering wheel 28 is turned to-the. right, the operation of the element 31 is just reversed, that is it is moved into engagement with the contacts 33, to illuminate the' compartments 16 and 14 respectively. The current flows through the brake pedal 19, and wire 38 to the movable element 31 and thence through the contacts 33 to the said. compartments. A conf ducting wire 41leads to the com artment 14, while a conducting wire 42 le s to thel compartment 16. i

When the vehicle is brought to a sto `the switch 43 is operated to illuminate t e compartment 14 whichiis then used in the capacity of a parking lamp; the current flows to the wire 44 from the source of energy 18 to one of the contacts 33, and thence from said contact to the wire 41 to said compartment.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, -the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understoodI that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that suchy changes ma be resorted to when desired as fall wit the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A switch attachment for use in direction signalling for motor-vehicles com rising the combination with the steering co umn' of the steering mechanism of the vehicle, a steering rod wheel, and a toothedwheel carried by said steering Wheel and operating when the steerin wheel is shifted to take up lost motion prior to steering, of a switchlng mechanism supported from said columnl in proximity to said steering wheel and in- Y cluding a-pivoted circuit opening and closing member having an inset upper end permanently engaging with said toothed wheel whereby said'member is shifted to circuit closing position. when the steering wheel is yactuated to take uplost motion.

2. A switch attachment for use in dir'ection signalling for motor vehicles comprising the combination with the steering column of the vehicle, a steering rod wheel, and a toothed wheel carried by the hub of the steering, wheel and operated when the to turn to the left, and when the element latter is shifted to take np'lostmotion prior l to steering, of a. switch mechanism sup rted actuated to take up lo'st motion, and means from said column in proximity to sal steerwhereby the' circuit closed by said member ing Wheel and including a pivoted circuit is controlled from the brake lever of the l0 opening andV closing member having, its vehicle.

6 upper end permanently in engaement with In testimony whereof I ax my signasaid toothed wheel whereby sai 4member is ture. shifted by the toothed wheel to circuit closing position when the steering wheel i s JASJLMILLER. 

